Clay Buchholz is embracing leadership role on young Phillies' staff

Clay Buchholz is embracing leadership role on young Phillies' staff

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- At age 32 and with 10 years of big-league service time, Clay Buchholz is the elder statesman of the Phillies' starting pitching staff.

The distinction comes with a responsibility to lead and Buchholz is ready for that role.

"It comes with the territory," the right-hander said after his second start of the spring with his new club Sunday (see story). "If you're lucky enough to be around the big leagues for an extended period of time you know what you have to do. I'm looking forward to it."

The Phillies acquired Buchholz in a December trade with the Boston Red Sox. Three weeks into his first camp with the Phils, Buchholz has been impressed with some of the young arms he now shares a clubhouse with.

He mentioned Vince Velasquez, in particular.

"I like Velasquez," Buchholz said. "That's who I've played catch with every day since I got here. Just watching him on TV over the last few years, he's got electric stuff. If he can learn how to harness it all … Stuff plays at the major-league level if you command it.

"That's with all the kids coming up now throwing 100 miles per hour. There are some arms coming up around the league that are just electric and I think Vinny is one of those guys who could open a lot of eyes this year."

Buchholz described what it's like to simply play catch with Velasquez, who had a 16-strikeout game last season.

"You see how the ball comes out of his hand, the backspin, the movement, and he's not even trying to make it move, that's just the way it comes out of his hand," Buchholz said. "That's when you've got something special."

Buchholz hopes to impart on Velasquez and others some of the lessons that he learned over his 10 seasons in the baseball cauldron that is Boston. Buchholz enjoyed the highs of pitching a no-hitter in the second big-league start of his career and the lows of losing his spot in the rotation (he ultimately regained it) a decade later.

Playing under the microscope in Boston taught Buchholz the importance of having a short memory -- the ol' never get too high when things are going well or too low when they're going bad thingy. It also taught him the importance of focus.

"I talk to (Velasquez) every day," Buchholz said. "It's more about coming from an organization where everything is so magnified and you're expected to win every year. From my short time here, it's a little more relaxed than Boston was, even in spring. It's easier to work on things without having to answer a whole lot of questions and dwelling on them and that's what I'm trying to express to these guys: You have to work every day and even if it's relaxed you've got to take it at game speed and that's how you get better."

Velasquez, 24, struck out 10.4 batters per nine innings over 24 starts last season. He is one of three starters 26 and under in the Phillies' rotation, joining 23-year-old Aaron Nola and 26-year-old Jerad Eickhoff.

"It's something different than what I've seen the past nine or 10 years," Buchholz said. "It's always been a big veteran presence and to come into a place where the average age is 24, 25 years old, it's a little different.

"It's fun to be around them, fun to be around a new group of guys. I think this team is headed in the right direction."

The Phillies will be without their best hitter for a third straight game.

Because of a nagging left hamstring, Odubel Herrera is not in the lineup Thursday night when the Phillies kick off a four-game series against the Giants at AT&T Park.

The Phillies' centerfielder, who is considered day to day, is slashing .379/.431/.636 with three homers, two triples, four doubles and 10 RBIs over his 17-game hitting streak.

To replace Herrera, Nick Williams will see another start in center field, while Hyun Soo Kim plays right field. Williams moves up to third in the lineup, where Rhys Hoskins hit Wednesday. Hoskins, who has three homers over his last three games, will hit cleanup, followed by the struggling Maikel Franco, who is 4 for his last 30 (.133).

Meanwhile, Tommy Joseph slides to the seven-hole. The first baseman is 1 for his last 16 and hasn't homered in 18 games.

Fortunately for the Phillies, Aaron Nola takes the ball tonight and opposes Giants right-hander Jeff Samardzija. For more on the game, read Corey Seidman's game notes right here (see story).

Phillies outfield prospect Carlos Tocci promoted to Triple A

Phillies outfield prospect Carlos Tocci promoted to Triple A

Phillies outfield prospect Carlos Tocci, who it seems like has been in the organization forever, was promoted Thursday from Double A Reading to Triple A Lehigh Valley.

Tocci, who turns 22 on Aug. 23, has been in the Phillies' organization since he was 16 years old. He's taken some pretty big steps forward offensively the last three seasons as he's gained muscle and experience, and this season he's hit a career-best .307/.362/.398 in 474 plate appearances.

Recent promotions to the majors of Rhys Hoskins, Nick Williams and Cameron Perkins have created openings in the Lehigh Valley lineup. Tocci will likely play center field, where he's committed just one error in 801⅓ innings this season.

Tocci will likely be added to the Phillies' 40-man roster this winter to prevent another team from plucking him away in December's Rule 5 draft. The Phils may have to make a decision between Tocci and oft-injured Roman Quinn (see story), though there are several other replaceable players on the 40.